Ep 87: Every Reservist a Warfighter

In 2021, the Government published a list of recommendations in the Reserve Forces Review 2030. Less than a year later Russia invaded Ukraine. What happened to RF30? How will RAF Reservists be affected? And what does it mean for the wider RAF? InsideAIR spoke with Air Vice-Marshal Ranald Munro, the Royal Auxiliary Air Force’s Commandant General, to find some answers.
InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.

[@grahamwalker2312]

Intelligent persuasive arguments put forward by Air Vice Marshal Munro.

[@WizardOfCheese]

make fitness / pt sessions mandatory on duty weekends for the reserves, for a start.

[@Sc00T668]

Hi i have a question about joining the raf as a pilot. Im at university studying aerospace engineering until I'm 24 and was wondering if you can still become a pilot after your 23rd birthday or is it not possible?

[@jmfangio286]

I applaud your enthusiasm and the efforts and commitment of reservists, of which I was one in my younger days. However, you need a reality check. The last time a senior general called for a Citizen Army was Lord Roberts of Kandahar in Glasgow in 1913. Do you remember what then happened? The First World War happened, an industrial war for which Britain was not prepared and had not expected. It was a massacre. It was the end of Empire. British society was shattered, and arguably has never recovered.
You seem to think that you need political direction. But what if today's British politicians are a bunch of amateurs, in thrall to foreign powers, which they are? You are not receiving the leadership you or we need and deserve.
You are not going to 'militarise' civil society without a clear common goal and the general consent of the public. We are no longer in a Cold War against global Communism. It is high time that Britain realised that it is a small country, and not a world power. Playing at being a world power only results in the British Armed Services being used as a handy sidekick by others, primarily the USA.This is delusional.
What is the reality? We achieved NOTHING at huge cost in Afghanistan and Iraq. Fact. The Ukraine War is not an unprovoked aggression by Russia. It is a USA proxy war planned for decades to weaken and break up Russia. It has failed. Fact. Despite all that NATO has provided to the Ukrainians, Russia is about to win decisively, and there is nothing the British Armed Services could do about that. The Hamas terrorist attacks have resulted in a genocidal campaign by the IDF against the Palestinians, and anyone who tries to help them. Fact. The Yemeni / Houthi strikes are related directly to the massacre taking place in Gaza. They will stop when the IDF stop massacring Muslims. What British interest is served by bombing the Houthis? Zero. It is not even effective. Why anyway are we trying to 'project power' or 'punch above our weight'? NATO is just an extension of USA military power, as has become blindingly obvious in Ukraine, and its allies are in reality just obedient vassals. The weaponry which we buy, and much of it from abroad, is uncompetitive, designed for historic conflicts, intended to make profits for the manufacturers, not to win wars. The F35 for example is an over complicated over expensive piece of equipment which is not fit to face a truly modern opponent. It is fortunate for us that the Russians have no intention of invading Western Europe, contrary to what our idiot politicians tell us, because with their latest equipment and level of manpower they would clear the RAF and any other NATO air force from the skies. If the RAF and its auxiliary forces want to die in an effort to weaken Russia or China or Iran for the benefit of who knows whom, that is what will happen. It is NOT fighting for our country, quite the opposite.
What direction SHOULD we be moving in? We should recognise that Britain is a small but successful trading nation in a changing world. Our armed services should be designed as a true defensive force, as for example are the Swiss. We should design and equip our forces with British designed and manufactured equipment that is truly fit for purpose, for that clearly defined role, so that no aggressor would consider attacking us. If you do that you will have genuine and widespread public support. Any international effort should in future be strictly in accordance with the UN Charter, not the so called 'Rules Based International Order' which is just a licence for illegal wars of loot and conquest, which make our world more not less dangerous.
At present all you are doing is pretending that you are the world's policeman and trying to send British forces to die in hopeless battles against nations which are not our enemies. You will not get public support for that. GET REAL!

[@Aviation_geek_]

Hello

[@FastJetPerformance]

Let's be honest, the RAF has lost the reservist warfighting culture because of their own acceptance of poorer pay and conditions and the prioritising of minorities of women over the core demographic of the young white man. The seniority accepted the DEI agenda pushed on it by the UK Government and it's hurting the Service as it was poorly implemented and now 3 people are leaving for every one joining.
I hope new CAS ACM Knighton can go some way in undoing the legacy of ACM Wigston.